Nemanja Lacman, who until recently held the position of deputy editor-in-chief at Radio-Television Podgorica (RTV Podgorica), and the editor of the local public broadcaster's television station, Milan Sekulović, were dismissed after the Labor Inspectorate ordered it, concluding that they had been illegally employed by that media outlet.
The Labor Inspectorate reacted after the Supreme Audit Office reported on irregularities related to employment at RTV Podgorica. The Inspectorate concluded that Sekulović and Lacman were illegally employed - through agreements to take over employees from private media, without publicly advertising the positions.
Nevena Cvijović has been appointed acting editor of the television station.
The positions that Lacman and Sekulović were covering were advertised today on the Employment Agency website.
Executive Director of RTV Podgorica Vladimir Otašević told "Vijesti" that on October 13, the labor inspector issued a decision and ordered the elimination of irregularities. A day later, as he responded to the editorial staff, he issued a decision terminating the employment relationship of Sekulović and Lacman.
"Based on the Decision on the Elimination of Irregularities No. 2504/25 of 13.10.2025, which was issued by the inspector of the Department for Labor Inspection of the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Welfare on 14.10.2025, as the executive director of RTV Podgorica, I issued two decisions on the termination of employment - for the deputy editor-in-chief of RTV Podgorica Nemanja Lacman and the editor of TV Podgorica Milan Sekulović. These are colleagues who were hired last year, based on the Agreement on the Takeover of an Employee from Private Media, without a public announcement. The inspection requested that this irregularity be eliminated and I, as the executive director, respecting the decision of the competent state body, promptly reacted," Otašević replied to "Vijesti".
He claims that this is "the epilogue of the report of the State Audit Institution (DRI), which was sent to the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office (SPO), and from that prosecutor's office it traveled to the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT), and eventually reached the Department of Labor Inspection."
"So, this is the epilogue of the whole story of certain political exponents, who claimed that because of my work, the Special State Prosecutor's Office (SDT) should enter RTV Podgorica and that various criminal offenses have been committed there since the arrival of the new management. So, it has been clearly established that there are no criminal offenses that are being prosecuted ex officio and the epilogue of all this is that there was no misdemeanor order, which will be avoided with a prompt reaction. RTV Podgorica continues its work. In accordance with the law, we expect to soon fill the vacant positions - Deputy Editor-in-Chief of RTV Podgorica and Editor of TV Podgorica," said Otašević.
Sekulović was also the editor of the show "Referat" on TV Podgorica. On the closing credits of the Monday (October 13) edition of "Referat", he was introduced as the editor of the television. In that edition of "Referat", the guest, among others, was Lacman, whom Sekulović announced as the deputy editor-in-chief of the television.
Opposition: Council to react
Miloš Mašković, a councilor for the opposition European Alliance in the capital's Assembly, announced on his X network account around noon that Sekulović "was illegally employed for more than a year and a half."
"... Without a public competition and without fulfilling the legally prescribed conditions. Sekulović was appointed to the editorial position even though he had never worked on television and had no editorial experience, which confirms that the entire process was politically motivated and completely illegal," Mašković announced.
He called on the members of the RTV Podgorica Council to react immediately.
"I call on the members of the RTV Podgorica Council, who care about respecting the law (if there are any), to react immediately, dismiss the director of RTV Podgorica, Vladimir Otašević, ensure that the competition is conducted in accordance with the law, and publicly announce all financial and personnel decisions that have been made in the meantime," Mašković said in the post.
His colleague from the opposition DPS, Andrija Klikovac, called on the administration of the Capital City to publish the findings of the internal audit regarding the operations of RTV Podgorica.
Klikovac also stated in a post on the X network that the audit concluded that the television's operations were in violation of numerous laws.
"It is particularly interesting how, contrary to the Labor Law, certain journalists from private media were employed (taken over), causing great damage to the budget of the citizens of Podgorica. Now it is clear why the director does not answer numerous questions from councilors and does not respect the Law on Free Access to Information. Numerous violations of the law, various invoices and 'special' annexes to the contract are hidden. PS - who is the new editor," Klikovac wrote.
Ad Terms
The advertisements for these positions have been open for eight days. According to details published on the Employment Service website, these two positions involve shift work, a salary of 800 euros...
A degree from a faculty of humanities, level VI or VII qualifications, and at least three years of work experience in journalism are required.
Candidates should submit a CV, proof of completed educational qualification level for which the advertisement is published, a certificate or confirmation of the necessary work experience in the same or similar jobs, a certified photocopy of the biometric ID card, as well as a certificate of health fitness and that they have not been convicted of a criminal offense that makes them unfit for work. These certificates must not be older than six months.
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